Babaryka, Zolatava, and Several Dozen Other Former Political Prisoners Urged European Leaders to Negotiate More Actively for Releases

The appeal was reported by former political prisoner, TUT.BY chief editor Maryna Zolatava. The letter, dated October 20, is addressed to the heads and representatives of EU institutions, politicians, parliamentarians, and diplomats of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Norway.

In the letter, the signatories remind of 900 political prisoners in Belarus and note that the real number could be significantly higher. At least nine people have already died in detention. Many have spent five or six years behind bars, and new politically motivated arrests and sentences continue.

Former political prisoners thank the American side for diplomatic efforts, thanks to which hundreds of people have been released. At the same time, they believe that the European Union should act more actively.

«Thousands of people continue to serve sentences in the form of home imprisonment, and thousands more live in constant fear of being detained. Repressions in Belarus do not stop: every day we learn about new politically motivated arrests and sentences.

We call on you to make every effort to put an end to this.

There is nothing more valuable than human life. No political goal is worth people's health and lives. We believe that these are not just lofty words for you.

We address you with a request that seems obvious and paramount to us.

We call on the European Union to become an active participant in the process of releasing political prisoners and ending repressions in Belarus. We ask you to use all available means for this: diplomatic channels, negotiation formats, pressure and incentives, public and closed work. Let these efforts be consistent and coordinated, and the release of people become a permanent agenda item in any contact with Minsk and in any discussions about the future of relations with Belarus.

We are grateful to the American side for the fact that, thanks to its diplomatic efforts, hundreds of people have already been released. However, we believe that the European Union should take a more active stance on this issue. Because Belarus is a part of Europe. It is your neighbor», the letter states.

The appeal also emphasizes that releases must be «part of a sustainable solution, not a one-time episode».

«People who are released should not find themselves in forced exile without the right to return, and those who remain should not live under the threat of new arrest. As long as new people are being detained, releases do not solve the problem. It is necessary to seek an end to politically motivated persecution», the authors write.

The authors of the letter also called on the EU to engage in dialogue together with Belarusian society, «to listen to different voices of Belarusians, including those who have been through prison, and to take their experience into account when making decisions».

The letter was signed by

Liudmila Chekina

Marfa Rabkova

Nasta Loika

Iryna Slaunikava

Maryia Kalesnikava

Maryna Zolatava

Iryna Zlobina

Andrei Aliaksandrau 

Tatsiana Kuzina

Mikhail Laban

Alena Malinovskaya

Darya Afanasyeva 

Anastasiya Kukhta 

Anastasiya Lazarenka

Valeryia Charnamortseva 

Hanna Papay

Aliaksei Shchytnikau

Henadz Smirnou

Dzmitry Semchanka

Dzianis Khakhloh

Dzmitry Bianchuk

Natallia Sheremetava 

Alana Hiebremaryiam

Volha Matskevich

Katsiaryna Mendryk

Viachaslau Smirnou

Mikhail Lapenas

Kiryla Pazniak

Nadzeya Kalach

Uladzimir Kalach

Tatsiana Kurylina

Tatsiana Stsepa 

Palina Palavinka

Dzmitry Luksha

Kiryl Kazey

Ihar Satsiuk

Liudmila Volkava

Yuliya Laptanovich

Ihar Laptanovich

Ihar Karniei

Volha Pavlava

Volha Loika

Alla Sharko

Viktoryia Hrankouskaya

Nastassia Zhylskaya

Katsiaryna Leu

Karyna Pratashchyk

Pavel Shpetny

Alena Hnauck

Tatsiana Kupchyna

Hanna Pyshnik

Natallia Malets

Natallia Vasilevich

Tatsiana Hatsura-Yavorskaya

Anastasiya Hancharevich

Aliaksei Bahdziei

Aliaksei Azarka

Katsiaryna Khulkhachyeva

Aliaksandr Birulia

Tatsiana Birulia

Siarhei Vaitsiuk 

Mikita Litvinenka 

Siarhei Salokha

Vital Bandaruk 

Viktar Babaryka

Volha Harbunova

Aliaksandr Andrushkevich

Katsiaryna Sevaryna

Uladzimir Sevaryna

Larysa Shchyrakova

Mikita Zalatarou

Kseniya Syramalot

Darya Chultsova

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